‘The biggest win ever’: Ohio woman, 73, recovers most of $42K she lost in ‘tech support’ scam — because she acted quickly. What you need to know to protect yourself from this growing threat

Fast action halts cryptocurrency con job

The scammers followed an increasingly familiar playbook: posing as a legitimate organization and using fear and a sense of urgency to get a victim to hand over cash.

In August 2024, con artists sent the Ohio woman a fake Microsoft pop-up on her computer warning that her computer had been hacked. The pop-up included a number to call.

“They’re very convincing when they get you on the phone," Stranahan said of the imposters.

When the woman called, an imposter told her she’d reached the Microsoft hotline and they could fix her computer, but it would cost $42,000 and that she needed to convert her cash into bitcoin and send it in multiple online transactions.

She followed instructions, but as soon as she realized she’d been duped, she contacted Delhi police who immediately contacted the Electronic Financial Investigations Unit at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Stranahan said there’s a misconception that it’s impossible to trace bitcoin, but investigators can track and cancel bitcoin transactions with enough lead time. In this case, they were able to freeze 81% of the transactions, recovering $34,000 of the woman’s money.

Everyone’s fast action — including the victim’s — was critical.

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How to avoid falling for ‘Tech Support’ scams

‘Tech Support’ scams are so common that Microsoft has posted these tips:

• Microsoft will not send phone numbers with legitimate error messages
• Microsoft will not tell you that there is a problem with your computer without you first reaching out for help.
• If you see a questionable ‘Tech Support’ pop-up on your computer, close your browser (press ALT+F4 if you’re unable to use your mouse) or restart your computer.
• If you receive a call about problems with your computer, hang up.
• Report a technical support scam to Microsoft.

Stranahan warns people to beware of calls from anyone claiming to be a service provider or a law enforcement officer and offers these tips:

• Don’t feel pressured to act right away, even if the person or message sounds urgent.
• Don’t share your personal information and refuse any request for money, especially if you’re asked to convert money into gift cards or bitcoin, both of which can be hard to trace.
• Ask the person who called you for their supervisor’s name and a local callback number. A scammer won’t want to provide that information. If that’s the case, hang up or delete the message immediately.
• Call a trusted friend or family member and tell them about what happened to you to help confirm whether you’ve been targeted for a scam.

If you do fall prey to an online scam, reporting it is essential — not just to protect yourself but others. In addition to police, consider reporting the crime via the Federal Trade Commission’s website Reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-382-4357.